NOVEMBER 1979

With a wordless spell, Marlene ignited the tip of her candle. She held it to her chest, where the flickering light splashed her chin. Beside her, a teardrop of warm light appeared. And then another. And another, and another, until a sea of quivering flames illuminated the desolate faces of their owners.

Across the darkened lawn, a baby was squirming in the arms of its mother. Its tiny face was scrunched up, with a thumb nestled cosily between its tiny lips. Hannah Abbot was blissfully unaware that she was attending the funeral of her father.

The graveyard at Godric's Hollow was unusually crowded. One by one, each member of the Order stooped and placed their candle on the ivory tombstone beside the mound of freshly dug earth. Sobs shattered the quiet as Jane Abbott knelt beside her husband's grave, cradling their daughter to her breast with one hand and tracing the block letters of ANTHONY ABBOTT with the other. Tears spilled from Marlene's eyes as she realised that she probably knew about Anthony's death before his wife did. Guiltily, ashamedly, she looked away. She felt a weight stir at her shoulder. She glanced left to see Caradoc, his eyes glassy and his jaw clenched.

Albus Dumbledore stood by Jane's side as she struggled to her feet. Absent was the characteristic twinkle in his eye; only sorrow remained as he comforted the widow, a steady hand on her forearm as he spoke to her in a low voice.

Slowly, as murmurs of respect and condolences were shared with the family, the crowd thinned. Mary's hand appeared on Marlene's elbow and gently steered her from the graveyard. They joined their friends who were milling around on the illuminated path just beyond the low brick wall.

"We're thinking of going to the Leaky Cauldron," James said. Peter hovered by his side, trembling even more than usual. "To have a drink in Anthony's honour. Tom's got a bottle of mead on hold. Says he wants to pay his respects."

Marlene nodded, pulling her cloak closer against the chill.

"Let's stagger it in pairs, though," Dorcas said. "So we don't all appear in London at once."

"Ever the sensible one, little Doe," Sirius said with a somewhat forced playful smile, trying to lift the morose atmosphere amongst the group.

"I'll go with this one," Dorcas replied, gesturing at Sirius. "Make sure he doesn't get into any trouble." Sirius raised a hand in salute before offering his arm to Dorcas. They disappeared with a pop. Lily and James went next, followed by Mary and Dorcas, and then Remus and Peter.

A noise startled Marlene and she turned around to find Caradoc resting against the brick wall, looking sombre. "I was wondering if I could join you guys," he said softly. "We never got to have that drink together after Tuesday's meeting was cancelled, and I definitely could use one now." He smiled weakly.

Tuesday! Damn – how could she forget? So much had happened recently, and an artificial date did not top the list. Thinking about meeting with Caradoc hadn't filled her with butterflies, like it should have, but rather reluctance paired with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, like an unexplainable guilt. And every time she closed her eyes, it wasn't Caradoc she saw. It was Rosier. But, how simple would it be if Caradoc turned out to be the man she was supposed to end up with? No more sneaking around. No more confusion. No more feelings of boundless joy battling against crippling regret.

He was watching her expectantly. "Of course," Marlene said. He smiled with relief, and yet the smile was still sad. "Maybe we could stay for one drink more, after the others have left. To make up for Tuesday."

"That would be nice," he said gratefully before extending his arm to Marlene. A moment later they appeared on Charing Cross Road. Together, they darted between oblivious Muggles and their deathly vehicles before entering the Leaky Cauldron. The chatter of patrons greeted them alongside the pleasant warmth that drifted from the giant fireplace, out of which a wizard would occasionally emerge, brushing soot from his shoulders. In the corner of the room, beside the bar, a group of subdued witches and wizards sat around a circle of tables that had been pulled together. They spoke in low voices, staring at their drinks and rarely smiling. Marlene and Caradoc made their way over and sat at the two empty chairs.

"I hope you don't mind me joining you," Caradoc said as he slipped off his cloak.

"Not at all," Remus said amiably. Mary's eyebrow arched in surprise.

Sirius gestured for the barman and Tom headed for their table, his head bowed. He shook Caradoc's hand and greeted Marlene with a nod. "It's good to see you all here together, even if it is under these circumstances." He paused and stared off into the distance. "You know, I gave Anthony his first job when he left Hogwarts. He worked here for the summer. Lovely lad." Those gathered bowed their heads as personal memories, now marred by the pain of loss, came unwittingly to mind. "But, anyway," he placed two extra glasses on the table. "Drinks are on me tonight."

They murmured their thanks as Tom retreated behind the bar. Remus sighed before filling Caradoc's glass.

"Lily, are you not having one?" Marlene asked suddenly, noticing the odd number of glasses.

She smiled somewhat nervously and shook her head. "We didn't know when to tell you this – and now probably isn't the most appropriate time," Lily began as James took her hand between his. She placed her spare hand on her abdomen.

"No – way – " Mary gasped, clapping a hand to her mouth.

Lily grinned. "We're having a baby."

There was a moment of stunned silence. Suddenly, Sirius roared with delight and jumped up, hauling his best friend to his feet and embracing him so violently that they nearly upturned the table. Remus swamped James with thumps on the back, and Peter hovered by James' elbow, squeaking his congratulations. Marlene's shrieks mingled with those of Dorcas' and Mary's as they fell on Lily with hugs and tears and mouths in the shape of a permanent o.

"Bloody hell, Prongs," Sirius said, once he had settled down. "A dad. You're going to have a baby."

James grinned, clear elation in his eyes. "I know, mate. Hardly seems real."

"I'm gonna' be such a fun uncle. I'll teach him how to fly. Or buy him one of those massive bikes, y'know the ones Muggles have – "

"You are not," Lily interrupted amidst laughter from the group. "You'll be going through a safety regulation check before you get within five feet of my kid." She smiled teasingly. "And what makes you so sure it'll be a boy?"

"Just a feeling."

"I'm so happy for you both," Dorcas said, her eyes shiny with tears. Lily squeezed her hand.

"When – when are you due?" Peter stammered in that nervous way that Marlene had grown to associate with Peter Pettigrew.

Lily counted on her fingers. "July, probably. Late July."

Peter's eyes widened with shock and his mouth gaped like a fish. "The end of July?"

"And that right there was James' exact reaction," Lily said, gesturing at Peter's stunned, and somewhat frightened, expression. Marlene laughed.

"Hey, gimme' a break!" James said. "July is really close, alright."

"Well, you better get used to it, mister," Lily said, poking a finger into her husband's shoulder. "Because it's only going to get closer."

James caught her fingertips and kissed them. "I know."

Marlene looked away, smiling to herself, only to find Caradoc watching her closely. He averted his eyes suddenly, embarrassed to have been seen.

"Thank you for telling us," Remus said. "It's so nice to get some good news for a change." Thoughtful silence met his words. "I'm sorry," Remus said quickly. "I didn't mean to dampen the mood."

"No, Moony, you're right," Sirius said. "If we don't celebrate moments like these, I'll end up forgetting how to laugh." His face contorted in mock-fear at the very thought.

"You're going to be such amazing parents," Marlene said quietly. "That kid is going to have the greatest life." Her words had touched them. James beamed and Lily blinked away tears.

"Well, I hate to cut this short, but some of us have work tomorrow," Mary said, glaring jokingly at Marlene and Sirius.

"Hey!" Marlene protested. "Just because I don't work Wednesdays, it doesn't mean I don't work. Can't speak for that one, though," she said with a jerk of her thumb towards Sirius. "He's just lazy."

"Just filthy stinking rich, I think you'll find," Sirius said with a grin. "Thank you, Uncle Alphard."

"Yeah, well, not all of us can have rich Black uncles," grumbled Mary. She turned to Lily. "You ever need a back rub, or a foot rub, or pickles and ice cream at three in the morning, you know where to find me."

Lily laughed. "Thanks, Mary. I'll keep that in mind."

"Shall we call it a night?" Remus asked as he drained the last of his drink.

There were murmurs of agreement from the group as they began readying themselves to leave. Embraces and words of farewell were shared as, one by one, the crowd thinned.

"Marlene, you coming?" Sirius looked at her expectantly as he slipped into his cloak.

"Uh – I think I'm going to stay," she said.

Sirius looked suspiciously between Marlene and Caradoc until realisation dawned on his face. "Oh."

"Come on," Mary said, steering Sirius from the pub. "Let's leave these two alone." She flagrantly winked towards them both before disappearing.

They were alone.

"You have wonderful friends," Caradoc said simply as Marlene turned back to the now mostly-empty table.

She nodded, smiling. "I think so."

"Enjoy those moments," he said, suddenly solemn. "You never know if – " He stopped suddenly, as if shocked with himself.

"If they're going to be the last," Marlene finished gently. She bowed her head. "I'm so sorry, Caradoc. About Anthony. I know you were close."

His lip quivered as he looked at his drink. Caradoc took a deep breath before replying. "We grew up together. I didn't know anything about this world – " he gestured towards the fireplace that had just turned green, and then towards the glasses that were cleaning themselves at the bar – "and when I got on that train, I was shaking. Anthony sat with me and told me everything I needed to know." Caradoc smiled sadly as he recalled the memory. "He was sorted just before I was and he made sure there was a seat right next to him. I was invited to every Abbott Christmas.

"And we did everything that kids do together, you know. And then we grew up, and he became a husband. And then a dad. And then he was murdered." Caradoc's voice broke on the last syllable. Marlene looked away as he angrily wiped his eyes.

"I am so sorry," she said quietly. After a moment of hesitation, she reached across the table and took his hand. Surprised flitted across his face before he composed himself and smiled. And then that smile was replaced by a look of pure thunder as something beyond Marlene's shoulder caught his eye.

"You..." Caradoc spat, his iron voice carving a silence into the animated pub. His grip tightened on Marlene's hand as she span around. A pair of men had emerged from the Leaky Cauldron's fireplace, the soot invisible upon their dark cloaks. One, Marlene didn't recognise. The second, however – his eyes found hers immediately. And then his eyes found her fingers entwined in Caradoc's.

Instinctively, Marlene withdrew her hand. Evan watched her every movement, his expression unreadable. And, then, from nowhere, a surge of anger hit her as she pictured Anthony's widow weeping over his grave. You did this, she thought with trembling fury. You could have stopped this. And then his voice rose unconsciously to her mind: "I saved you." She closed her eyes momentarily. No one knew what was supposed to happen that night. No one but her knew that Anthony was dead whilst Marlene survived.

The second of the duo, whose white-blonde curved perfectly around his pale, pointed face, glanced towards the source of the noise. A twisted smile spread across his face. "Good evening, Mr Dearborn," the man said icily, a glint in his eyes. "A lovely evening for a drink, isn't it?"

"You bastard." Caradoc's voice was trembling with fury. He rose slowly to his feet, his hand disappearing between the folds of his cloak. Marlene watched as Evan reached for his own wand, his eyes never leaving Marlene. Were those words, huskily whispered by firelight, were they just words? How much was Evan Rosier really readily to sacrifice for Marlene?

"Now, now," the blonde man said, his eyebrows furrowed in mock outrage. "Is there any need for such language?" Subtly, he waved a dismissive hand and Evan lessened the grip on his wand. The patrons of the pub were watching the events unfold with hesitant fear. Tom had appeared from the back, where he lingered behind the bar, unwilling to interfere in case it exacerbated the tension, but not wanting his pub to be torn apart in a furious brawl.

"Caradoc," Marlene murmured cautiously. He had pulled his wand from his robes and he was holding it at his waist with a trembling hand. She placed a hand of warning on his wrist. As she did so, Evan raised his wand. Marlene couldn't tell who he was aiming for.

"Listen to your lady," the blonde man said with a sneer. A flash of recognition appeared in his grey eyes as they raked over Marlene and his smirk deepened. "There's no need to cause a meaningless death, is there?"

Fire blazed in Caradoc's eyes as he raised his wand. "Caradoc!" Marlene shrieked, jumping into his line of attack. Her heart pounded as she willed herself to do anything to stop a fight from unfolding. Caradoc's eyes flashed to her, irritated. And then they softened. He realised his surroundings: the potential for collateral damage, the vulnerability of their position. He took a deep breath and lowered his wand. Marlene span around and glared fiercely at the cloaked men. "Leave," she said, breathing heavily. "You've done enough." Evan's stony face flickered. Marlene pleaded with him with her eyes. Leave, Evan. Don't make me fight this fight.

"Let's go," Evan murmured, as he, for the first time, tore his dark eyes from Marlene. "Come on, Lucius."

With a smirk, Lucius flipped his cloak and followed Evan out of the back of the pub towards Diagon Alley.

There was a moment of silence before the pub filled with hesitant voices and the occasional nervous laugh. Caradoc was leaning over the table, his fingernails carving crescent moons into the wood and his knuckles white. "Are you okay?" Marlene asked quietly.

Caradoc blew out a shaky breath and nodded. When he looked at her, he was pale. "Can I take you home?"